1913 RPPC Rankin Oklahoma Hospital Tent Car Dr. Cary Signed Medical History For Sale

1913 RPPC Rankin Oklahoma Hospital Tent Car Dr. Cary Signed Medical HistoryItem Description
Up for sale is an exceptional 1913 Real Photo Postcard (RPPC) documenting early twentieth-century pioneer medical history in Oklahoma. This extraordinary piece captures the \"Rankin Hospital\" operating out of a canvas hospital tent structure, in the extinct ghost town of Rankin, Roger Mills County, Oklahoma. The photographic image features four individuals: the attending pioneer physician, two nurses in uniform, and a patient seated in an early high-back wheelchair. Parked alongside the hospital tent is an early-production Ford Model T Runabout/Roadster, capturing the exact historical era when rural doctors transitioned from horse-drawn buggies to early automobiles to make county-wide house calls. The lower-left corner of the image includes the sharp, clear in-photo text stamp: “RANKIN HOSPITAL\".Historical Provenance: Written & Signed on Back.
The reverse side of this postcard features invaluable, handwritten historical data provided by the attending physician himself. 
Location: Penned as Rankin, Oklahoma
Date: September 25, 1913
Signature: Autographed and signed by pioneer physician Dr. Cary.Because Rankin is a vanished town/ghost town, authenticated postal and historical artifacts from this specific municipality are scarce and sought after by state historians and regional collectors.Condition Report
Image Clarity: Superb. The photograph remains clear and sharp, showing fine details of the individuals\' expressions, clothing, wheelchair mechanics, and the vehicle.Edges & Corners: The edges are crisp and straight. The corners show minimal, honest age-related rounding consistent with a 113-year-old piece of paper.Flaws: There is a soft, slight crease on the upper left corner and a faint mark of old tape residue along the upper edge (see high-resolution photos). Light surface scratches and minor historic smudged fingerprints are present but do not detract from the main subjects. Preservation: The postcard has been kept uncleaned to preserve its historical integrity and will be shipped in a protective, acid-free polypropylene sleeve and rigid top-loader.Shipping & Handling
Ships securely tracked and packaged flat between heavy cardboard layers to prevent bending during transit.About the people and the place:
The doctor is confirmed as William Sheldon Cary, MD (1881-1955), son of Charles Andrew and Mary Barbara McIntosh Cary. This real‑photo postcard depicts a temporary medical station in Rankin, Oklahoma, a frontier settlement in Beaver County that later became a ghost town. The image shows Dr. William Sheldon Cary, M.D., standing beside an early automobile outfitted with a canvas‑covered medical tent. Three women in nursing uniforms accompany him, one seated in a wheelchair, suggesting either a patient or a nurse recovering from illness or injury.
The printed caption “RANKIN HOSPITAL” refers not to a permanent institution but to a mobile or provisional clinic, typical of early 20th‑century medical practice in remote communities of the Oklahoma Panhandle. Such clinics were essential in regions lacking formal hospitals, providing care during outbreaks, accidents, and ranching‑related injuries.
The reverse bears a handwritten message dated September 25, 1913, signed “Dr Cary,” noting the bright sun affecting the subject’s expression. The postcard was addressed to “Bro & Sister,” offering a personal glimpse into the sender’s life and the informal nature of frontier medical work.
_________________We ship on weekdays to the United States and selected countries.I describe each postcard\'s condition as close to the standards as I can. Please use the photos as a further guide to their condition. We accept returns at the buyer\'s expense within 30 days of purchase. If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact me and I will do my best to remedy the situation.